Emiliano Martinez will be Aston Villa's biggest absence in the UEFA Super Cup 2026 final against PSG. Aston Villa face Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday seeking their second UEFA Super Cup title, this time at Red Bull Arena in Salzburg, Austria. However, the Villans will navigate a major absence for their first official match of the 2026-27 campaign, as starting goalkeeper Emiliano “Dibu” Martinez is unavailable. Emiliano Martinez is sitting out the clash against PSG because he remains on extended vacation. The goalkeeper concluded his campaign at the 2026 World Cup with Argentina on July 19, prompting head coach Unai Emery to grant him four full weeks of rest before rejoining squad activities. The same policy was extended to England international duo Ezri Konsa and Ollie Watkins. The defender and striker wrapped up their World Cup participation in the third-place match against France on July 18, ruling them out for the seasonal opener as well. When asked about the missing stars, Emery offered a direct explanation regarding why the trio were left out of the traveling squad against PSG: “Konsa, Watkins and Emiliano Martinez are not here because they finished their season on 19 July and I gave them four weeks to rest. It is completely necessary.“ Emiliano Martínez of Argentina makes a save during 2026 World Cup Final against Spain. (Al Bello/Getty Images) While framing PSG as favorites for the Super Cup, Emery noted that having those key starters available would have boosted Aston Villa’s chances. “They are not here tomorrow. Of course, if they were here, maybe we could have more chances. But at the same time, I think PSG are going to be in the same situation as us,” the coach added. Martinez boasts nearly immaculate record in cup finals Aston Villa and PSG previously met during the 2024-25 UEFA Champions League quarterfinals, splitting the series with one win each while the French club advanced 5-4 on aggregate. While the matchup serves as a tiebreaker in their head-to-head history, missing Martinez, a keeper known for his big-game pedigree, represents a substantial blow for the English side. Over his career across both club football and international duty with Argentina, Martinez has featured in eight cup finals, compiling an impressive 7-1 record. His first major trophies arrived in 2020 while playing for Arsenal, where he won both the FA Cup and the FA Community Shield. He followed that with an iconic international run with Argentina, winning the 2021 Copa America, the 2022 Finalissima, the 2022 World Cup, and the 2024 Copa America. His seventh career victory came during the 2026 Europa League final with Aston Villa, before his streak ended in a 2026 World Cup final defeat against Spain.